Valve-in-head packer



Dec. 321940. A WILSON VALVE-IN-HEAD PACKER Filed Sept. 50, 1938 2 I I gwwwo l?- I'LWILSON Patented Dec. 3, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in well control packers.

The general object of the invention is to provide a well control packer, simple in construction, 5 easy to install and operate and efficient in operation.

Another object is to provide a packer of the class described in which a spring cage is attached to a packer assembly and makes sufflcient Q engagement with the surrounding pipe 'to enable the closure of a control valve within the packer and retention of the packer at the desired level. Another object is to provide a well control packer wherein the flow string and the surrounding packer assembly are provided with valve elements, a releasable connection being provided between the now string and the packer assembly so that the valve may be closed when the desired level is reached.

20 Still another object is to provide a well control packer having a spring cage which enables closing of the control valve 'of the packer, such cage being so constructed that there is a tendency for the cage to rotate in a direction to maintain a 25 fixed relation between the flow string and the packer assembly while the device is being moved within the well. v

Other objects, together with the foregoing, will be apparent from the following description taken 30 in connection with the drawing which illustrates the invention and in which: 3

Fig. 1 is an assembly view showing the device of the invention in position within a well pipe or casing, parts being shown in section to more 35 clearly illustrate the construction.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but shows the relative position of parts of the device while being lowered into or withdrawn from the well pipe or casing. I

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3-3 in Fig. '1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view similar to Fig. 3 but taken on line 4-4 in Fig. l.

Referring to the drawing l designates a. well pipe or casing within which there is positioned a flow string generally designated as 2. The flow string 2 includes a composite section comprising a tubular member 3 and collars 4 and 5 threadably connected thereto. The ends of this section are in turn connected to the adjacent sections of the flow string.

The collar 4 provides a shoulder or enlarged I portion which is provided with spaced peripheral as grooves near its lower end to receive seal rings 6 which serve a purpose that will be more fully apparent. I

A packer assembly generally indicated as l surrounds the section just described. This assembly comprises a mandrel II which is reduced peripherally at its opposite ends to receive pairs of cup rings l2 and I3, packer cups i4 and [5 being positioned between the rings of the respective pairs. A spring cage I6 is connected to the lower end of the mandrel II and secures the cup 10 rings I3 and interposed packer cup I5 in place. In a similar manner a sleeve I6 is fastened to the upper end of the mandrel II and secures the cup rings l2 and interposed-cup I4 in position.

The sleeve i6 is provided with openings 20 in spaced relation with the upper end of the mandrel H.

When the relative position of the flow string and the packer assembly is such that the seal rings 6 are above the openings as indicated in 20 Fig. 2, a passage for fluid is provided as indicated by arrow 25. Conversely, if the 'seal rings 6 are below the openings 20, the passage of fluid between the flow string and the packer assembly is closed as is indicated in Fig. 1. Closure or opening of the passage between the flow string and the packer assembly is therefore effected by relative movement of these parts.

The relativeposition of the flow string packer assembly is determined by a releasable connection comprising a plurality of Z-slots 26 in the collar 4' cooperating with\ ins 21 which are fixed in the collar 4. It is a parent that when the pins 21 are at the upper end of the Z-slots, as

indicated in Fig. 2, fluid may be by-passed about the packer cups l4 and I5 through the device. by passing through the openings H in the shell of the spring cage l6, thence upwardly through the annular passage l8 and outwardly. through the openings 20. On the other hand when the pins 21 are in the lowermost position in the Z-slots 26, as indicated in Fig. 2, the by-pass passage through the device is closed.

The spring cage assembly It includes a D111 rality of spring members which are bowed outwardly and frictjonally engage the inner walls of the pipe or casing through which the device is being moved. These springs are.subject to considerable wear and are therefore provided with projections 3| of wear resistant material. 5 It is to be noted that these projections are elongated and extend diagonally to the axis of the device. For this reason such projections serve the dual function of resisting wear and also tending to rotate the packer assembly in a direction to maintain the Z-slot connection in a given position when the device is being lowered into the pipe or casing I.

The operation of the device is believed apparcut from the foregoing description. It may be stated that when the device is being lowered or withdrawn from a well the flow string 2 will be rotated in a manner to bring the pins 21 into position at the upper end of the Z-slots 26. The passage through the device will therefore be opened and liquid through which the device moves will be readily by-passed through the annular space between the flow string and the packer assembly.

If it isdesired to close the valve at any given level, it is necessary only to rotate the flow string 2 in such a manner that the flow string may be lowered relative to the packer assembly and pins 2'! will move downwardly in the Z-slots 26.

The frictional engagement of the spring cage l6 and the packer cups l4 and i5 with the walls of the pipe or casing I will be suflicient to prevent movement of the packer assembly. Hence, lowering of the flow string 2 will cause the pins 21 to move downwardly in the Z-slots 26. Such lowering of the flow string will close the by-pass passage through the device whereupon any pressure upon the-packer assembly from above or below will cause the packer cups l4 and [5 to effect sealing engagement with the walls of the pipe or casing I.

In this manner an efiective seal will be provided between the flow string 2 and the casing I and production may be had through the bore of the flow string.

It is believed apparent that if desired either of the cups on the described device may be in-. serted so that both of the cups will extend upwardly or downwardly and it-is intended that 40 such use of .the device is within contemplation of the invention.

Broadly the invention contemplates a packer:

construction which will allow the valve to be closed at any desired level in a well, which is free from accidental closure during insertion or withdrawal from a well and which may be utilized, if desired, to control flow through the annular space between a flow string and a surrounding pipe or casing.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described the combination of a casing, a flow string therein, said flow string having a reduced portion forming a shoulder thereon, a packer mandrel surrounding said reduced portion and in spaced relation therewvith to form an annular passage therebetween,

packer means on said mandrel adapted to move into sealing. engagement with the surrounding pipe by fluid pressure axially about the mandrel, a sleeve on the end of said mandrel in close telescopic relation with the flow string adjacent said reduced portion, there being openings in said sleeve adjacent the shoulder on the flow string, sealing means between the flow string and said sleeve movable between positions above and below said openings to permit or prevent flow through the openings, a releasable connection between the packer and flow string for controlling the relative position of the string and packer to control the flow of fluid through the annular passage, and a spring cage attached to the packer means and adapted to drag on the surrounding pipe.

2. In a device of the class described the combination of a casing, a flow string therein, said flow string having an enlarged portion providing a shoulder thereon, a packer surrounding the flow string adjacent said shoulder, a sleeve on said packer adapted to telescopically receive the enlarged portion of 'the flow string, said sleeve assembly surrounding said fiow string, cooper- 1 ating valve elements on said string and assembly to control the flow of fluid therebetween, a releasable connection between the string and assembly so that the relative positions of said valve elements can be controlled,-a spring cage attached to the packer assembly and adapted to drag on the well pipe, and wear resistant surfaces on said spring cage to contact the well pipe, said surfaces being elongated diagonally to the axis of the flow string so that the packer assembly will tend to rotate in a direction to maintain the connection fixed during lowering of the device in'a well.

4. A well control packer adapted to fit within a pipe in a well including, a packer assembly comprising a mandrel, packer cups fixed on said mandrel and adapted to move into sealing engagement with the surrounding pipe when fluid movement axially of the pipe thru the packer is restricted, a spring cage attached to the mandrel and adapted to drag on the well pipe, a flow string passing through the packer assembly, and valve elements on the string and assembly for controlling the flow of fluid therebetween.

5. A well control packer adapted to fit within a pipe in a well including, a packer assembly comprising a mandrel, packer cups thereon, a spring cage attached to the mandrel and adapted to drag on the well pipe, a flow string passing through the assembly, and valve means on the flow string and packer assembly adapted to control the flow of fluid therebetween.

6. A well control packer adapted to fit within a pipe in a well including, a flow string, a packer assembly surrounding said flow string and comprising a mandrel, packer cups fixed thereon whereby a seal is formed between the mandrel and the surrounding pipe when movement of fluid axially of the pipe is restricted, means on said mandrel for frictionally engaging the well pipe, 2. releasable connection between the flow string and packer to control the position of the packer upon the flow string, and valve means operable by relative movement of the flow string and packer to control the flow of fluid therebetween.

7. A well control packer adapted to fit within a well including, a packer assembly comprisin a, mandrel, packer cups fixed on said mandrel and adapted to move into sealing engagement with'the surrounding pipe when fluid movement axially of the pipe through the packer is restricted, a spring cage attached to the mandrel and adapted to drag on the well pipe, a head on said packer assembly having a passage therethrough, a. valve member movably connected to said head to open and close'the passage therethrough, and a flow' string extending" upwardly from the valve member.

ed to drag on the well pipe, a tubular head on the packer, said head having outwardly opening passages in the walls thereof, a valve member movably connected to said head to open and close said passages, and a, flow string extending up- 5 wardly from the valve member.

ROBERT A. WILSON. 

